Top Fuel driver Bernstein inspired by Schmidt
Brandon Bernstein hasn’t won a Top Fuel title since 2009, but some added inspiration Friday might have helped earn him the provisional pole in the NHRA Big O Tires Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Bernstein’s best run of 3.833 seconds at 321.27 mph came in the early evening session and a couple of hours after talking with longtime friend Sam Schmidt.
It was the first time Schmidt had been at the speedway since the IndyCar accident Oct. 16 that killed Dan Wheldon, who was driving a car owned by the Henderson resident.
“Sam’s been a good friend for many years,” said Bernstein, whose sponsor, Copart, also helps sponsor Schmidt’s multicar IndyCar operation. “He’s been through so much in his life that it’s always good to get a perspective from him.”
Schmidt also spent some time with team owner John Force, whose driver, Eric Medlen, died March 23, 2007, from injuries sustained in a testing crash a few days earlier.
In other provisional qualifying Friday, Robert Hight of John Force Racing took the top spot in Funny Car with a run of 4.085 seconds (311.27 mph) to edge Matt Hagan of Don Schumacher Racing by eight-thousandths of a second heading into today’s final two qualifying sessions.
Hagan earned five qualifying points to move into a tie with teammate Jack Beckman for the lead in the championship standings.
The biggest surprise in Funny Car was the performance of Alexis DeJoria, whose 4.121-second pass placed her fourth for a team operated by Kalitta Motorsports. It is her third event competing in Funny Car.
Jason Line was the quickest in both Pro Stock sessions with a fast time of 6.624 seconds (208.07 mph). He is poised to clinch his second season championship Sunday.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Hector Arana of Milltown, Ind., is in position to earn his third straight Las Vegas pole after an afternoon run of 6.924 seconds (190.84 mph).
Jeff Wolf is a freelance reporter. He can be reached at (702) 406-8165 or nitrorodeo@gmail.com.